Wall structure and method of installing same

ABSTRACT

A wall structure adapted for installation between floor and ceiling structures of a building. The wall includes ceiling and floor tracks with a plurality of vertical stud members located therebetween. Connector members are provided with each connector having a first leg adapted for being engaged in an end slot formed in the end of a wall panel, and with a second leg having hooked elements adapted for engaging the stud members through vertical slots formed in the stud members. The wall is constructed by connecting panels to adjacent stud members with access panels having the connector members releasably fastening panels to the stud members.

United States Patent Meziere WALL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF INSTALLINGSAME [72] Inventor: Walter G. Meziere, 1221 S. Cobblestone Road, LaHabra, Calif. 90361 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 871,470

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.747,305, luly 24, 1968, abandoned.

[151 3,683,575 51 Aug. 15, 1972 6/1966 Farmer ..52/481 392,825 5/1965Switzerland ..52/51 1 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney-JosephH. Golant [57] ABSTRACT A wall structure adapted for installationbetween floor and ceiling structures of a building. The wall includesceiling and floor tracks with a plurality of vertical stud memberslocated therebetween. Connector members are provided with each connectorhaving a first leg adapted for being engaged in an end slot formed inthe end of a wall panel, and with a second leg having hooked elementsadapted for engaging the stud members through vertical slots formed inthe stud members. The wall is constructed by connecting panels toadjacent stud members with access panels having the connector membersreleasably fastening panels to the stud members.

4 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 15 1912 sum 1 BF 2 l-al-q Wm.152 6. MEZ/EQE INVENIUR.

PAIENTEDAus 15 I972 INVENTOR.

SHEEI 2 OF 2 W44. 7:5? 6. M5 ZAEQ'S BY 331 a 2' W WALL STRUCTURE ANDMETHOD OF INSTALLING SAME This application is a continuation-in-part ofa previous application filed by the same inventor on July 24, 1968, Ser.No. 747,305 and titled Access Wall, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a wall structure and more particularly to a wall structurewhich may be quickly and easily fabricated; installed and removed andwhich provides at least one access panel for entry to the interiorspacing of the wall structure, and relates to a method of installingsuch a wall,

In many commercial building facilities the required allocation of floorspace varies substantially during relatively short periods of time. Insuch facilities, where the size and location of rooms require frequentmodification to adapt to the changing needs of the occupants, it isquite expensive and unnecessary to utilize interior wall structures ofconventional permanent construction. Additionally, it is sometimesdesirable to have a ready access to the interior spacing of the wall forsuch purposes as the addition, rerouting or repair of electrical wiring.Also, it is advantageous in such applications that the wall structure beadaptable for installation and removal in a short period of time so thatdisruption to the normal activities of the facility will be held to theminimum. Further with the increasing cost of skilled labor, access wallsor room partitions which may be fabricated and installed with a minimumneed for skilled craftsmen, would substantially reduce constructioncosts in general.

Quick assembled partition walls have been known in the prior art formany years with many different approaches being attempted in order toachieve an efficient and inexpensive structure. For example, in a US.Pat. to Bemis, No. 2,054,189, a rather complicated structure wasillustrated which used a hook type arrangement incorporated into thewall panel to attach the panel to supporting structure. While theconceptual approach was good, the Bemis structure was far toocomplicated to be economically manufactured for a present day wall. In aUS. Pat. to Olsen, No. 3,229,435, a hook type arrangement attached toslotted stud members was proposed. However, the hook structure itselfwas exposed beyond the front surface of the wall, thereby necessitatinga finishing step of masking and covering with plaster. A more recent US.Pat. to Farmer, No. 3,256,666, illustrates a system of attaching wallpanels to a slotted stud in a more uptodate and more efficientarrangement than shown by the Bemis patent. However, even Farmers systemis overly complicated and thereby expensive both in manufacturing costsand in labor time necessary for installing the wall structure. Until thepresent application, no one has been able to bring together the propercombination of elements necessary to achieve an economical wallstructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above problems have been solved by theapparatus and method of the present invention which includes:

an easily installable and removable wall structure having an access tothe interior spacing and said wall structure comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second tract for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, atleast one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached tosaid first and second tracks, and each of at least two other of saidplurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of studmembers;

elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wallpanels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements; and

said slots of said stud members for receiving two of said hookedelements one each of said hooked elements being from one of two of saidelongated connector members, one each of said connector members beingfrom adjacent wall panels which are in a linearly aligned relationship.

A method of installing a wall structure comprising the steps ofproviding a first track;

providing a second track;

providing a plurality of stud members, at least two of which haveU-shaped cross sections, at least one is an end stud member and theremainder of stud members have H-shaped cross sections, each of saidU-shaped stud members having a plurality of slots;

providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, each endhaving an elongated slot therein;

providing elongated connector members attached to six of said wallpanels, two wall panels having a connector member in each of their endslots and four wall panels each having a connector member in only one oftheir end slots;

attaching said first track to a ceiling;

attaching said second track to a floor;

attaching said end stud member to said first and said second tracks;

. restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said end stud, sothat the panels are parallel to each other and form wall portions of twoseparate walls;

mounting a stud member having an H cross section to said two wall panelsby inserting the arm portions of said stud memberin the end slots ofsaid wall panels;

mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector'member in onlyone of their end slots by insetting the arm portions of said mountedH-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connectormembers,

mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having aconnector member in only one of their end slots by having said connectormembers engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members;

mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each of theirend slots to said U shaped stud member by positioning one of theconnector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the correspondingconnector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots ofsaid U- shaped stud member;

mounting a second U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels havinga connector member in each of their end slots by having the remainingconnector members of said panels engage the slots of said secondU-shaped stud member;

mounting the remaining two of said four wall panels having a connectormember in only one of their end slots by engaging the connector memberswith the slots of said second mentioned U shaped stud member adjacentthe corresponding connector members of said wall panels having aconnector member in each of their end slots;

mounting another stud member having an H' cross section to saidremaining two wall panels having a connector member in only one of theirend slots by inserting the arm portions of the I-I-shaped stud memberinto the slot ends not having the connector members; and

mounting two walls panels to said last mentioned I'lshaped stud memberby inserting the arm portions of said I-l-shaped stud member into theend slots of said wall panels.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new andimproved wall structure which may be readily installed and removed in aminimum period of time and at a substantial cost reduction as comparedto prior art systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wallstructure which incorporates a simple and sturdy supporting structureonto which wall panels may be releasably but firmly attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved roomdivider wall which may be constructed of a few basic types of structuralmembers, which members may be inexpensively mass produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure which iseasy to install, remove and store, and which is not damaged by suchinstallation or removal and is therefore reusable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure which hasan easily removed access panel allowing ease of entry to the interiorregion of said wall structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of installing awall structure which is easily and quickly accomplished.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects con-templated are attained as herein setforth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion ofa wall structure embodiment with several panels of the wall removed soas to show the supporting structure for the panels, and showing in crosssection the ceiling and floor structures to which the wall is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wall structure showing a partiallyinstalled wall panel thereon;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 33of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a connector member mountedin an end slot of a wall panel;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a stud member of thesupporting structure of the wall;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a another embodiment of aconnector member;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating anotherembodiment of a stud member of the supporting structure with a portionof mounted panels.

FIG. 9 is a front view, partially broken away, of another embodiment ofa wall structure;

FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view taken on line 10I0 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a connector member mountedin an end slot of a wall panel illustrating the connector member duringdistribution of a wall panel and, in phantom, during use of the wallpanel in the wall structure;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a connector member attachedto a back surface of a wall panel;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a connector member attachedto a front surface of a wall panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS In one embodiment of the invention,chosen for the purpose of illustration, a wall structure indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10, FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown mountedbetween a ceiling structure 12 and a floor structure 14. A U-shapedceiling track channel 15, which may be constructed of galvanized sheetmetal for example, is fastened to the ceiling structure 12 by means ofany conventional fasteners, such as screws 16, so that front and rearflanges 17 and 18, FIG. 4, respectively, project downwardly from theceiling 12. A U-shaped floor track channel 20, which also may beconstructed from galvanized sheet metal, is fastened to the floor 14 bymeans of any conventional fasteners, such as screws 21, for example, sothat front and rear flanges 22 and 23, FIG. 4, respectively, projectupwardly from the floor 14.

A plurality of stud members 25 are positioned between the ceiling track15 and floor track 20, either loosely or wedged into place atpreselected spaced intervals. The stud members 25 may be constructed ofU- shaped sheet metal channels having a front flange 26, FIG. 6, and arear flange 27. Vertical slots 28 are formed in the front and rearflanges 26 and 27, respectively, at intervals along the length of thestud member 25. The purpose and dimensions of the slots 28 will beexplained subsequently.

The wall structure 10 includes a plurality of wall panels 30 which maybe composed of an outer section 31 and an inner section 32, or may becomposed of a single unit, as shown in FIG. 10. The panels 30 may beconstructed of conventional wall facing materials, such as gypsum orplaster board. If two sections are used, they are bonded with anadhesive to form a compound panel having inner and outer sections. Aconnector member 34, FIG. 5, has a first leg member 35, which is adaptedfor being .forced' into a retained by a longitudinal slot 36 formed ineach lateral end 33 of the panels 30. A second leg member 37 of theangle 34 terminates in a plurality hooked elements 38 formed along thelength thereof. In one embodiment of the angle 34, shown in FIGS. 4 and5, the hooked elements 38 are formed by vertical cutouts 39 in the lowersurface of tabs 40.

In one method of assembling the wall structure 10, the ceiling and floortracks 12 and .14, respectively, are installed by being fastened to theceiling and floor, respectively. Next the stud members 25 are placedbetween the ceiling and floor tracks with a spacing between stud membersapproximately equal to the width of an other section 31 of the wallpanels 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the stud members 25may be configured to be of a slightly reduced width so that the outerfaces of the flanges 22 and 23 of the floor track 20 will be flush withthe upper section of the stud members 25, thereby resulting in aperfectly vertical support structure. However, it will be appreciatedthat in the interests of economy the floor channel 20 may be widened toaccommodate the normal width of the stud members 25 with the resultingslight taper of the wall being of no practical consequence. Also in FIG.4, the stud members 25 are shown firmly attached to the floor track 20by means of sheet metal screws 39 which are threaded through the flanges22 and 23 and the stud members 25. However, satisfactory performance maybe obtained without the use of the screws 39 with the studs secured inposition by the force of being tightly wedged between the floor andceiling tracks and by the support provided by the bottom edges of thepanels 30 when installed.

As may be seen best in FIG. 5, a connector member 34 may be attachedtoeach lateral end 33 of a panel 30 by forcing the leg member 35 betweenthe panel sections 31 and 32 into the slot 36. Next, the panels may bemounted to the stud members 25 by positioning each panel so that thehooked elements 38 project.

through the slots 28 and by then lowering the panels so that the hookedelements slidably engage the surfaces of the stud flanges 26 or 27. Inthe embodiment of the wall structure, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the widthof the slots 28 is such as to accommodate two hooked elements 28 ofadjacent panels in a side by side parallel relationship. The wall isformed by sliding each panel 30 upwardly into the top section of theceiling track until the hooked elements 38 are aligned with the slots28, and by then allowing the hooked elements to project into the slots28 and slide downwardly to engage the surface of the stud members 25. Itis noted that since the outer sections 31 of the panels 30 are widerthan the inner sections 32 that the outer surface of the resulting wallis substantially continuous, although the inner wall sections 32 areseparated by at least the thickness of a pair of leg members 37.

In the embodiment of the connector member 34, shown in FIG. 5, it isnecessary to utilize right and left hand connector members on oppositeends 33 of the panels 30, with the direction of the angle between thelegs 37 and 35 reverse between the two configurations. The embodiment ofconnector member 34a shown in FIG. 7 eliminates the requirement ofstocking two sets of these members by incorporating a modified tab 40awhich has vertical cutouts 39a and 42 formed in the upper and loweredges, respectively, of the symmetrical tab 40a. In utilizing theconnector member 34a, all that is required is simply inverting forinsertion into grooves 36 on opposite edges 33 of the panels 30. It isnoted that for member 34a the slots 28, formed in the stud members 25,are extended in length to accommodate the increased height of the tabs40a.

' In the embodiment of the subject invention, shown in FIG. 8, the studmember 25a has elongated ridges 43 formed down the center of the flanges26a and 27a. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 8 the slots 28a are reducedin width to accommodate but a single tab 40, and one such slot isdisposed on adjacent sides of the ridges 43. Further, the width of theinterior panel sections 32 is reduced slightly to conform to the spacing41 between the double slot arrangement, and adjacent outer panelsections 31 are supported by the ridges 43.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the panels 30may be mounted to both flanges 26 and 27 of the stud members 25 and thatthe wall may be readily disassembled by reversing the just describedinstallation procedure. That is, the panels may be pried upwardly fromthe bottom until the hooked elements 28 are centered in the slots 28,and the panels may then be slid out from under the flanges 17 or 18 ofthe ceiling track channel 15. Also, a baseboard trim 44, FIGS. 1 and 2,may be added at the bottom of the wall 10, if desired. The baseboard 44may be of any suitable conventional type, such as the rubberized typethat may be readily bonded to the panels 30.

Referring now to FIG. 11, another embodiment of a connector member isillustrated having a one-piece wall panel 60 with an elongated slot 62positioned in a lateral end 64 of the wall panel. Positioned within theslot 62 is a connector member 66 which has two leg portions, a leg 68within the slot 62, and a leg 70 projecting away from the slot and theend 64 and essentially perpendicular to the end 64. With the leg 70 inthis position the wall panel 60 may be easily wrapped and shipped moreeasily and at less expense since a great many boards may be piled uponone another without interference from the connector member 66, as wouldbe the case, for example, with the FIG. 5 embodiment where the hookedelement 38 might mar an adjacent wall panel. Additionally, since theconnector member 66 does not project beyond an interior surface 72 ofthe wall panel 60 during shipment of the panel, there is a greatlyreduced likelihood of a hooked element 74 of the connector member 66being damaged. When the wall panel reaches a construction site, the leg70 with the projecting hooked elements 74 are conveniently rotated to aposition as shown in phantom lines where the leg 70 is essentiallyparallel to the lateral end 64 and where the hooked element 74 extendsbeyond the interior' surface 72 so that the panel 60 may now be used inthe same manner as described for the FIG. 5 embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 12, still another embodiment of a connector memberis illustrated where the connector member 86 is bonded to the interiorsurface 82 of a wall panel 84. In this situation an elongated slot 86 inthe lateral end 88 of the panel 84 may be eliminated if desired.Nevertheless, the slot 86 is shown since a major producer of wallpanels, the U. S. Gypsum Company of Chicago, lll., produces standardwall panels having elongated slots in the lateral ends. In addition, thewall panels produced by the U. S. Gypsum Company has the lateral end 88slightly tapered from the exterior surface (not shown in FIG. 12) to theinterior surface 82 so that the exterior surface has a greater widththan the interior surface. A phantom line 89 is drawn from the interiorsurface to the exterior surface in FIG. 12 indicating where the edge ofthe panel would have been if not for the taper. The taper is especiallyconvenient in the FIGS. and 11 embodiments because the exterior surfacesof adjacent wall panels may present a continuous wall surface, and yetthere is still provided sufficient clearance for the location of thelegs 37 and 70, respectively, of the connector members 34 and 66. Theadvantage of the taper will become more apparent during the discussionof the FIG. embodiment. It is to be understood that the connector member80 of the FIG. 12 embodiment may be shipped with its hooked element 90extending essentially perpendicular to the lateral end 88, as has beendescribed for the FIG. 11 embodiment. Thereafter the hooked element 90is rotated 90 at the construction site prior to installation of the wallpanel 84.

Referring to FIG. 13, still another embodiment of a connector member isillustrated. In some situations it is found desirable to laminate asheet of metal 91 to the exterior surface of a wall panel 92. Forexample, such construction is used for certain types of bathroom wallpanels. The connector member may be made integral with the sheet metal91 so that the sheet metal wraps around a lateral end 94 of the panel 92and terminates in a hooked element 98.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated another embodiment of awall structure similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Once again thewall structure includes a ceiling channel 104 and a floor channel 106connected respectively to aceiling 108 and a floor 110. A portion of abaseboard trim 112 is also shown along the lower portion of the wallpanels. While the finished wall of the wall structure shown in FIG. 9looks very similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,there are some unique differences in structure and the method ofinstallation. For example, referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of studmembers, such as members 100, 101, and 102, have an I-I-shaped crosssection where the cross bar 114 of the H of stud member 100, forexample, extends between and perpendicular to two oppositely disposedfinished walls 116 and 118, while the arm portions 120 and 122 of the Hextend parallel to the walls 116 and 118 with each arm portion extendinginto elongated slots in adjoining wall panels. For example, arm portion122 extends into elongated slots 124 and 126 of wall panels 128 and 130,respectively, and arm portion 120 extends into slots 125 and 127 of wallpanels 129 and 131, respectively. It is noted that each of the wallpanels, such as wall panels 128 and 130, have tapered lateral ends 132and 134 so that while exterior surfaces 136 and 138 provide a continuouswall 118, there is sufficient clearance for the cross bar 114 of theH-shaped stud member 100 to be located. It is also noted that adjacentwall panels are aligned in a linear relationship so as to provide usualstraight wall portions.

About the middle of the wall structure, there are located two studmembers 103 and 104 which have U- shaped cross sections similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 6. Each of the stud members 103 and 104 haveflanges, such as flanges 140 and 142 of stud member 103, each having anumber of slots, such as slots 141, FIG. 9. Wall panels and 152, whichare adjacent the stud member 103, are identical to the wall panels 128and 130. However, instead of having an arm portion from an H-shaped studwithin elongated slots in the lateral ends 149 and 151 of the wallpanels 150 and 152, respectively, connector members 154 and 156 areprovided which are configurate similar to that shown in FIG. 5 andlocated with the slots 149 and 151, respectively. It is noted that onlythe wall panel 152 has connector members located in each of the lateralend slots 151 and 153. This is in comparison to the wall panel 150 and awall panel 158, which are on either side of the wall panel 152, whereonly the lateral end slots 149 and 155, one slot in each panel, have aconnector member. The other lateral end slots 157 and 159 in the panels150 and 158, respectively, receive arm portions 161 and 163 of studmembers 101 and 102, respectively. It is, of course, understood thatwall panels 160, 162, and 164 are arranged in mirror image fashion towall panels 150, 152, and 158, respectively, in terms of placement andconnection to the stud members.

The wall structure just described offers three very importantadvantages. First, the wall structure is very inexpensive because mostof the elements making up the structure are standard, mass-produceditems, while the other, newer elements are easily, cheaply fabricateditems. Secondly, the wall structure allows easy access to the interiorspacing 165 between the walls 116 and 118 simply by removing the wallpanel 152 of the wall 118 or the wall panel 162 of the wall 116. Third,the wall structure is easily installed or removed, thereby keeping laborcosts to a minimum.

The method of installing the wall structure embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10is very conveniently and easily accomplished in a relatively shortperiod of time. The tracks 104 and 106 are provided as are the variousH- shaped and U-shaped stud members, end studs, such as end stud channel170, and a number of wall panels. The ceiling tracks 104 is attached tothe ceiling 108 in the preselected location by any convenient fastener,such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In a similar manner the track 106 issuitably connected to the floor 110. Then the end stud is attached atone end to the ceiling track 104 and at the other end to the floor track106. The three elements, tracks 104 and 106 and the stud 170 and afourth element comprising another end stud (not shown) provide the wallstructure frame work. The end stud 170 is generally U-shaped having twolegs 172 and 174 and, in addition, two more parallel legs 176 and 178which form two spaced channels, one channel between the legs 172 and 176and the other channel between the legs 174 and 178. Wall panel 129 isinserted into the channel formed between the legs 174 and 178 and behindone of the flanges of the track 104 in a manner analogous to that shownin FIG. 4. Wall panel 128 is located in the channel made by the legs 172and 176 so that a start is made on each of the walls 116 and 118.

Next, the l-l-shaped stud member 100 is pressed into the end slot 126 ofthe panel 128 and into the end slot 125 of the panel 129. Next, wallpanel 130 is press fitted to the H-shaped stud member 100 by having thearm 122 locate within the end slot 128. The opposite wall panel 131 isfitted to the stud member 100 in an analogous manner. In like fashion,there is alternation between H-shaped stud members and wall panels untilabout half of the walls 116 and 118 are in position. Then, instead ofplacing a wall panel, such as wall panels 128 or 120, having empty endslots, a panel such as panel 150 is used which has the connector member154 within its end slot 149. Thus, one end of the panel 150 cooperateswith the H-shaped stud member 101 while the other end is able tocooperate with the U- shaped stud member 103 by having the connectormember 154 position itself within one of the vertical slots in theflange 140.

Opposing wall panel 160 is positioned as the wall panel 150. Next, thewall panel 152, which will also be referred to as an access panel,having connector members 156 and 166 positioned in both the lateral endslots 151 and 153, respectively, is located so that at one end theconnector member 156 is positioned adjacent connector member 154 withinthe same slot within the flange 140, while connector member 166 ispositioned so as to be adjacent connector member 167 of the panel 158within the same slot within a flange 168 of stud member 104. Once again,the opposite wall panel 162 is also positioned in place in an analogousmanner. Next, the wall panel 158, having the connector member 167 inlateral end slot 155 is positioned in the slot of the U-shaped studmember 104, as is the opposite panel 164. There is then an alternationbetween H-shaped stud members, starting with stud member 102, and thewall panels until the end of the wall is reached at which time an endstud member, similar to the stud member 170, is positioned and attachedto the tracks 104 and 106 to complete the wall structure. It is notedthat should access to the interior spacing between the walls 116 and 118be desired, the access wall panels 152 and/or 162 may be easily removedby lifting the panel to unhook the connector members from the U-shapedstud members 103 and 104.

Should it be desired to remove the wall structure, all that need be doneis remove the access panels 152 and 162, and working either to one endstud or the other end stud, remove the Ushaped stud member 103 or 104and then continue pulling apart the wall panels from the H-shaped studmember until one of the end studs, such as 170, is reached. The wall isthen removed working in a direction toward the other end stud. Then theend studs may be detached from the tracks 104 and 106, and the tracksmay be detached from the ceiling and floor, respectively. It is noted,by referring to FIG. 9, that the H-shaped stud members and the U-shapedstud members may be floating. By floating it is meant that the studmembers are not attached to either of the tracks 104 and 106, butinstead are connected only to the wall panel and act primarily asspacers and stiffeners, rather than support members. Thus, the wallpanels support the stud members, rather than stud members supporting thewall panels. However, should the added support be necessary, the lengthof the stud members may be increased so as to be connected in some wayto either of the tracks 104 or 106, such as by press fitting, or byhaving one of the tracks such as track 106 crimped to provide a frictionfit between the track and the stud member.

What is claimed is:

1. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an accessto the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second track for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, atleast one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached tosaid first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of saidplurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud member;

said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud membershaving an H-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having aU-shaped cross section;

said U-shaped stud members having said plurality of slots;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of studmembers;

each of said plurality of wall panels having two lateral ends, each endhaving an elongated slot therein;

elongated connector members attached to at least three wall panels, saidconnector members terminating in hooked elements;

said elongated connector members being positioned within said elongatedslot of said wall panels;

wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receivethe hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediatelyadjacent wall panels; and

wherein said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped stud members havelengths less than the distance between said track when said tracks areattached to said ceiling and said floor whereby said H- shaped andU-shaped stud members are adapted to be supported by said wall panels.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said wall panelshas two surfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface; and saidlateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interior surface isless than the width of said exterior surface.

3. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an accessto the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second track for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, atleast one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached tosaid first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of saidplurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of studmembers, each panel having two lateral ends and elongated slots therein;

elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wallpanels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements;

wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receivethe hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediatelyadjacent wall panels;

said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members eachhaving an l-l-shaped cross section and at least two stud members havinga U- shaped cross section;

said U-shaped members having said plurality of slots; said plurality ofl-l-shaped and U-shaped stud members having a length less than thedistance between said tracks when said tracks are adjacent to saidceiling and to said floor whereby said H shaped and U shaped studmembers are adapted to be supportable by said wall panels;

each of said wall panels has two surfaces, an exterior surface and aninterior surface; and

said lateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interior surfaceis less than the width of said exterior surface.

4. A method of installing a wall structure comprising the steps of:

providing a first track;

b. providing a second track;

d. providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, each endhaving an elongated slot therein;

e. providing elongated connector members attached to six of said wallpanels, two wall panels having a connector member in each of their endslots and four wall panels each having a connector member in only one oftheir end slots;

f. attaching said first track to a ceiling; g. attaching said secondtrack to a floor; h. attaching said end stud member to said first andsaid second tracks;

restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said end stud, sothat the panels are parallel to each other and form wall portions of twoseparate walls;

j. mounting a stud member having an H cross section to said two wallpanels by inserting the arm portions of said stud member in the endslots of said wall panels;

k. mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector member inonly one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions of saidmounted H- shaped stud member into the slot ends not having theconnector members;

1. mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having aconnector member in only one of their end slots by having said connectormembers engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members;

m. mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each oftheir end slots to said U-shaped stud member by positioning one of theconnector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the correspondingconnector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots ofsaid U- shapedstud member; n. mounting a second U" shaped stud member tosaid mounted two panels having a connector member in each of their endslots by having the remaining connector members of said panels engagethe slots of said second U-shaped stud member;

0. mounting the remaining two of said four wall panels having aconnector member in only one of their end slots by engaging theconnector members with the slots of said second mentioned U-shaped studmember adjacent the corresponding connector members of said wall panelshaving a connector member in each of their end slots;

p. mounting another stud member having an H cross section to'saidremaining two wall panels having a connector member in only one of theirend slots by inserting the arm portions of the H- shaped stud memberinto the slot ends not having the connector members; and

q. mounting two wall panels to said last mentioned H-shaped stud memberby inserting the arm portions of said l-l-shaped stud member into theend slots of said wall panels.

1. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an accessto the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination: a first trackfor attaching to a ceiling; a second track for attaching to a floor; aplurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at leastone of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to saidfirst and second tracks, and each of at least two others of saidplurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud member; saidplurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members having anH-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having a U-shapedcross section; said U-shaped stud members having said plurality ofslots; a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality ofstud members; each of said plurality of wall panels having two lateralends, each end having an elongated slot therein; elongated connectormembers attached to at least three wall panels, said connector membErsterminating in hooked elements; said elongated connector members beingpositioned within said elongated slot of said wall panels; wherein eachof said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hookedelements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacentwall panels; and wherein said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped studmembers have lengths less than the distance between said track when saidtracks are attached to said ceiling and said floor whereby said H-shapedand U-shaped stud members are adapted to be supported by said wallpanels.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said wallpanels has two surfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface;and said lateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interiorsurface is less than the width of said exterior surface.
 3. An easilyinstallable and removable wall structure having an access to theinterior spacing thereof comprising in combination: a first track forattaching to a ceiling; a second track for attaching to a floor; aplurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at leastone of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to saidfirst and second tracks, and each of at least two others of saidplurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members; aplurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of studmembers, each panel having two lateral ends and elongated slots therein;elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wallpanels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements; whereineach of said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hookedelements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacentwall panels; said plurality of stud members include a plurality of studmembers each having an H-shaped cross section and at least two studmembers having a U-shaped cross section; said U-shaped members havingsaid plurality of slots; said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped studmembers having a length less than the distance between said tracks whensaid tracks are adjacent to said ceiling and to said floor whereby said''''H'''' shaped and ''''U'''' shaped stud members are adapted to besupportable by said wall panels; each of said wall panels has twosurfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface; and said lateralends are tapered so that the width of said interior surface is less thanthe width of said exterior surface.
 4. A method of installing a wallstructure comprising the steps of: a. providing a first track; b.providing a second track; c. providing a plurality of stud members, atleast two of which have U-shaped cross sections, at least one is an endstud member and the remainder of stud members have H-shaped crosssections, each of said U-shaped stud members having a plurality ofslots; d. providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, eachend having an elongated slot therein; e. providing elongated connectormembers attached to six of said wall panels, two wall panels having aconnector member in each of their end slots and four wall panels eachhaving a connector member in only one of their end slots; f. attachingsaid first track to a ceiling; g. attaching said second track to afloor; h. attaching said end stud member to said first and said secondtracks; i. restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said endstud, so that the panels are parallel to each other and form wallportions of two separate walls; j. mounting a stud member having an''''H'''' cross section to said two wall panels by inserting the armportions of said stud member in the end slots of said wall panels; k.mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector member in onlyone of their end slots by inserTing the arm portions of said mountedH-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connectormembers; l. mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panelshaving a connector member in only one of their end slots by having saidconnector members engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members; m.mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each of theirend slots to said U-shaped stud member by positioning one of theconnector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the correspondingconnector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots ofsaid U-shaped stud member; n. mounting a second ''''U'''' shaped studmember to said mounted two panels having a connector member in each oftheir end slots by having the remaining connector members of said panelsengage the slots of said second U-shaped stud member; o. mounting theremaining two of said four wall panels having a connector member in onlyone of their end slots by engaging the connector members with the slotsof said second mentioned U-shaped stud member adjacent the correspondingconnector members of said wall panels having a connector member in eachof their end slots; p. mounting another stud member having an ''''H''''cross section to said remaining two wall panels having a connectormember in only one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions ofthe H-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connectormembers; and q. mounting two wall panels to said last mentioned H-shapedstud member by inserting the arm portions of said H-shaped stud memberinto the end slots of said wall panels.